Customers of Play, one of Poland's prominent mobile operators, are facing significant connectivity issues across the country, affecting internet and television services.
Reports of the network outage emerged on February 23, 2025, with users beginning to voice their frustrations as early as 7:00 AM. Complaints flooded various online platforms, including downdetector.pl, where the number of notifications about service disruptions swelled to nearly 15,000 within hours. Major cities like Warsaw, Łódź, Gdańsk, Lublin, Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław, and Poznań have been heavily impacted.
While the official cause remains unclear, Play has acknowledged the situation, albeit without providing detailed information. Several users reported issues with home internet, as many found their fiber-optic connections down. Frustrations grew as many customers attempted to seek clarity and assistance, only to encounter minimal communication from the company.
"Trwają prace serwisowe telewizji Play. Prosimy, daj nam trochę czasu i spróbuj ponownie później," was the message displayed on the screens of many perplexed users, causing even more discontent. Comments on Play's social media echoed sentiments of frustration, with users expressing disbelief at the timing of continued maintenance work during weekends. While some noted, "Kolejne prace serwisowe w niedzielę, tragedia jak zawsze w Play," others chided, "Od kiedy to prace techniczne wykonuje się w dzień?! Takie rzeczy robi się w nocy!"
Reports indicated failures not only with internet services but also within the operator's mobile phone call capabilities. Phone users trying to reach out to their own network found themselves experiencing failure after failure, often receiving the discouraging message stating their call could not be connected. The fallout from the outage was widespread, extending even to virtual operators utilizing Play's network, such as Mobile Vikings.
Though some users managed alternative connections via Wi-Fi, many remained frustrated with their lack of access to necessary services. Amidst rising concerns, Play's social media team released statements, saying, "Bardzo nam przykro z powodu niedogodności. Cały czas pracujemy nad usunięciem przyczyn i jak najszybszym przywróceniem działania usług. Prosimy o jeszcze chwilę cierpliwości," reassuring customers of their commitment to resolve the issue swiftly.
Even as the frustration among users mounted, many sought updates through informal channels, with some stating, "Informacja z czatu Play. Technicy wiedza. Pracują. Może (może....) do jutra awaria będzie naprawiona. Rekompensata się nie należy. Wesoło." This reflects the uncertainty some customers felt about the timeline for restoration.
By around 11:00 AM, it seemed the situation was beginning to stabilize as updates from Play indicated services should be returning to normal. Nonetheless, for many, the ordeal left lasting concerns about Play's reliability during emergencies.
With communication networks being the lifeline of modern connectivity, such significant outages raise questions about the resilience of service providers against infrastructure failures. Play's customers deserve not only reliable service but also transparency and prompt responses when issues arise. The incident serves as yet another reminder of the importance of operational integrity within the telecommunications industry.